A family story
in service of ethical chocolate

CAOYA = Cacao + Maya

Our ethical chocolate is rooted in the history of cacao and Maya culture, which made it a sacred ritual drink, long before it became the chocolate we enjoy today. CAOYA pays tribute to these roots and seeks to reconnect this ancient bond with nature.

A story that begins with the forest

At the age of 11, Laura Vagneur, founder of CAOYA, received a T-shirt from her grandmother with the words “Save the Rainforest.” In the 1980s, her grandmother was among the few already speaking out about the destruction of tropical forests.

Growing up in the south of France, Laura didn’t yet grasp the scale of the issue, but understood that the Amazon, this green lung, was under threat. Even far from these forests, that T-shirt sparked an early need to speak out about the loss of natural habitats and endangered species.

This moment marked the beginning of a deep connection with nature. It planted the seed of a commitment that would stay with her, and years later, become CAOYA.

A bond with nature
that grew stronger over time

Même lorsque la vie a mené Laura sur d’autres chemins, la beauté, la diversité et la fragilité du monde sauvage ne l’ont jamais quittée. 35 ans plus tard, les mots de sa grand-mère résonnent toujours.
Elle s’est éteinte lorsque Laura avait 17 ans., mais son héritage demeure.

De ce t-shirt et de l’exemple de sa grand-mère naît une conviction : chaque choix du quotidien peut protéger la biodiversité. Cela commence par ce que l’on mange, avec l’envie de faire des choix plus justes pour soi et pour la nature.

The birth of Caoya

Ethical chocolate born from a personal commitment

Years after this first awakening, and following a career in marketing, Laura felt the need to turn this legacy and desire to act into a project capable of protecting forests.
Together with her son, Ludo, she naturally chose to create CAOYA. A family project built around ethical chocolate, designed to support biodiversity rather than exploit it.

Through agroforestry, Ludo and Laura go beyond offering a gourmet pleasure. They choose farming practices that contribute to preserving ecosystems, and supporting those who grow cacao.

The meaning behind the name CAOYA

CAOYA was born from the encounter between cacao and the Maya.

This choice reflects how chocolate, long before becoming a daily product, is connected to everything that comes before it: the land that gives life to cacao, the ecosystems around it, the women and men who cultivate it, and the farming practices that shape it.
It’s a powerful symbol, close to the raw ingredient, that reminds us that everything begins with what grows.

A story written with ethical chocolate

Choosing chocolate is first and foremost a choice of the heart.

In France, chocolate is part of our daily life, our kitchens, and our moments of celebration, comfort, and sharing. We savour it, enjoy it, and offer it as a thoughtful gift.

Choosing chocolate as a starting point means choosing a product that speaks to everyone. It is capable of the worst for ecosystems, as well as the best when rooted in agroforestry practices.

It is a simple way to tell another story of how we eat, with more meaning, more care, and more respect for nature.

“CAOYA was born from the belief that pleasure and purpose can coexist, and that chocolate can protect life on Earth.”
— Laura Vagneur, founder

A promise for future generations

Together with her son, Ludo, Laura anchors CAOYA in a spirit of transmission: a project that honours the origins of chocolate while looking towards the future of those who will inherit the world we are shaping.

At 20, Ludo embodies a generation that demands greater clarity in its consumption choices. He wants to understand what he buys, where it comes from, and the real impact of each product on the environment.

For him, organic labels are no longer enough. Going further means guaranteeing products that are good for people, but above all better for nature.

This shared commitment is one of CAOYA’s foundations. It gives meaning to “Eating with Purpose”: consuming less, but better.

Ludo, co-founder: why I care and why CAOYA

“I’m 20. I belong to the generation that grew up with images of burning forests and devastating storms across the world, including in France. Behind the endless debates about the future of the planet, I see above all a silent reality: the loss of our biodiversity and our balance.

Nature has always held an important place in my life. As I came to understand how the food industry works, I realised the urgency of producing differently.

With CAOYA, I want every bar to tell this story: cacao trees growing in the shade of other trees, biodiversity returning, soils regenerating. A chocolate born from a healthy ecosystem, not an exhausted one.

And to change habits, you have to spark the desire. For me, a dark chocolate with an intense, authentic flavour and carefully selected cacao beans are inseparable from a chocolate with a conscience.

I deeply believe that a choice, even a simple one, can have an impact. My goal is not to ‘save the world’, but to do my part, for the living world.”

— Ludovic Vagneur Kin, co-founder.

“Caoya is a tribute to my grandmother.
A promise to my son.
And an invitation to create a world
where every bite of ethical chocolate supports nature.”

— Laura Vagneur, founder of CAOYA

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A family story in service of ethical chocolate